Page 49 of Meet Me at Midnight

“That was one time!” Avery disagrees.

“And Grady at Mom and Dad’s Fourth of July party.”

“Obsessed with me much?” she retorts, smacking Beau in the stomach before lifting herself up and onto the counter to sit. “How about you focus on your own life and stop cockblockingmine, Beau? I offered up June too, by the way, so it’s not like Henry doesn’t have options.”

“Whoa,” I break in, a single finger in the air. “I don’t remember putting myself on the menu. No offense, Henry.”

Henry laughs, bemused by Avery’s antics as she dances around in front of him, shaking her braless tits from her spot on the counter.

“You know you love me, Henry,” she says, and he just smirks at her.

“Always the instigator, huh?”

“I’m not instigating anything.” Avery stops dancing to put a hand to her hip. “But maybe that’s your subconscious talking.”

“And what exactly is my subconscious saying?” Henry questions, and Avery leans closer to him, basically brushing one of her boobs against his arm.

“That I’m totally your style.” She blows him a kiss, and a heavy sigh escapes Beau’s lungs.

“You know, Ave,” Beau says, “if you put as much effort into your job as you do into flirting with my friends, Dad would probably be planning on letting you take his place when he retires.”

Avery cackles. “Like I’d ever want to work a nine-to-five. Get real, Beau.”

“News flash, Ave,” I chime in. “Youdowork a nine-to-five.”

“Yeah, but, like, I don’t actually work those hours, you know?” She winks. “They’re flexible.”

All three of us laugh at her absurdity and gives-zero-fucks attitude, and when Beau’s brown eyes meet mine, I hate how a rush of satisfaction zips from my head all the way down to my toes. “Juniper June, it’s one of the mysteries of the world how a nice girl like you can put up with my sister.”

“Because she loves me, Beau!” Avery insists. “And you love me too, even if you’re resistant to show it. Actually, you and Henry should shower off all your sweat and come out to Beluga with us in a little bit.”

“I’m not going out,” Beau and I both say in unison, making Henry laugh and Avery shriek.

“Gah, you guys are so weird! What is with the two of you lately? I don’t even know if I can associate with you much longer if you keep this up.”

“I’ll go to Beluga,” Henry offers, to which Avery cheers and Beau groans.

My best friend’s MIA status for the evening should be a good thing. And three days ago, I would’ve been chomping at the bit to see her leave so I could log in to Midnight and chat with Beau.

But that was before he sent me the “To meet you. And this time, I can’t take no for an answer” message midday and without provocation. Ever since then, I’ve been a cowardly chicken, unable to bring myself to say anything back.

It’s the last message that’s occurred inside our chatbox, besides thereentered the chatnotifications that pop up anytime either of us logs on.

We’ve both reentered the chat so much, it’s starting to become a thread of its own, but he hasn’t added anything and I haven’t answered either. We’re at an impasse—a true shit-or-get-off-the-pot moment—and neither of us is backing down.

Beau thinks he wants to meet me, which, in theory, is invigorating. But realistically, Beau already knows me…as his little sister’s best friend.

I can’t imagine that the buildup of everything he’s picturing doesn’t crash and burn as soon as he finds out, and I’m not ready. I want to stay in our Midnight chat bubble forever and ever.Amen.

A silent but deep sigh escapes my lungs as Henry and Avery finish making their plans to meet up, and Beau and he leave with nothing more than a chin tip and a wave. And nausea sits like a rock in my gut, reminding me that I’m at a crossroads I wish I would’ve never reached.

Avery shuts the door behind them and charges toward me, her eyes like lasers. “I’m not even going to beg you to come out tonight, June.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope.” She shakes her head and pokes her index finger into the center of my chest. “I’m done chasing your sleepy little tail.”

I laugh. I can’t help it. “I get the feeling you’re expecting that to be bad news, Ave.”

---